Top NFL free agents for the Cowboys: Should the team pursue safety Earl Thomas?

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FILE - Seahawks safety Earl Thomas taunts the Cowboys sideline after intercepting a pass in the second half of a game at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Seattle. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

Free agency is one of the most anticipated times of the year in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys are usually conservative during free agency, although every year brings new scenarios and choices. The Cowboys will have an estimated cap space of $54.69 million according to Over The Cap, and a large sum of that will be spent on retaining their own. Still, some new faces could come to town.

Top free agents the Cowboys could pursue

1. Earl Thomas, safety

Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas (29) intercepts a pass off the hands Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89, far right) as running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) tries to haul in the bounce during the second half of an NFL football game at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 24-13. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

Last team: Seattle Seahawks

2018 stats: 22 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 pass deflections

Career stats: 664 tackles, 28 interceptions, 68 pass deflections

2018 cap hit: $10.4 million

Thomas suffered a broken left leg in September, ending his season. The positive news is the free safety is expected to make a full recovery this offseason. Teams will be wary of Thomas coming off a serious injury, but when healthy, he's arguably the best safety in the game.

Thomas flirted with the Cowboys before, and the Texas product hasn't been shy about his interest. After failing to complete a trade for Thomas last year, will the Cowboys sign him outright now that he's available? He would be a major boon for the team's defense.

2. Grady Jarrett, defensive tackle

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 02: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Grady Jarrett #97 of the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Vic Beasley #44 returned the fumble for a touchdown. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Last team: Atlanta Falcons

2018 stats: 52 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

Career stats: 179 tackles, 14 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

2018 cap hit: $1.97 million

The Cowboys are probably going to let defensive tackle David Irving walk. In the event that they do, Jarrett is a more than capable replacement. Jarrett is a disruptive defensive tackle who could make the Cowboy's defensive line one of the best in the NFL. He's going to command significant cash, though.

3. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, safety

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Cody Kessler (6) is knocked out of bounds by Washington Redskins strong safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (20) after scrambling for yardage during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Last team: Washington Redskins

2018 stats: 92 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles

Career stats: 445 tackles, 14 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles

2018 cap hit: $3.15 million

The Green Bay Packers traded Clinton-Dix to Washington during the season. Clinton-Dix has a good nose for the football and he's an experienced safety who has played in big games. He would immediately start for the Cowboys.

Mathieu may not be an ideal fit for Rod Marinelli's defensive scheme, but that's exactly what makes the free safety a special football player. He's a jack-of-all trades type of safety who lines up all over the field. Injuries have affected Mathieu's overall play-making ability, but offenses still take notice of where he lines up.

5. Ndamukong Suh, defensive tackle

Tom Fox/Staff Photographer

Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) is pictured on the sideline during the second quarter of their NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Saturday, January 12, 2019. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)

Last team: Los Angeles Rams

2018 stats: 59 tackles, 4.5 sacks

Career stats: 478 tackles, 56 sacks, 4 forced fumbles

2018 cap hit: $14.5 million

Suh is still one of the better defensive tackles in the game. He plays alongside Aaron Donald in Los Angeles, and Donald thoroughly outshined him. That's more of a testament to Donald's dominance as an interior lineman, though. The 32-year-old Suh will probably want top dollar for his position, and the Cowboys are unlikely to cash out on the veteran defensive tackle.